Hope

"But always after a storm, there is a sign of hope."

-- M. Bruner

Many people I minister feel their sense of hope is lost, and it might be that their sense of hope is, in fact, misplaced.  Hope, however, is never truly lost.  We can give up hope, lose our sense of hope, but the hope we feel, that we sense is lost, is as eternal as the ability we have to choose hope or not.  Storms are nature's way of renewal, of creating or destroying.  It is a way of keeping balance in the universe. When we lose the sense of hope in our lives, we make a conscious or subconscious decision to do so.  Remember, all we have actually lost is our sense of hope.  Our lives need to be brought back into balance.

When I think about it, the opposite seems to be true, as well.  If a sense of truth is eternal wouldn't the opposite, a sense of falsehood, also be eternal?  Perpetuating falsehoods, lying, is not good for the soul.  The truth will win out, in the end, so perpetuating falsehoods would seem to be eternal if for no other reason than to provide balance, a sense of truth, to the universe.  Balance is all about having opposites, yet not all opposites are equal, nor are they good for the soul.  

We have opposites in order to teach us good from evil, right from wrong, light from dark, and so on.  It would seem, then, that everything must be eternal and, yet, change is said to be the only constant in the universe.  Something is until it isn't, and then it is again.  So, where does that leave hope?  Well, perhaps the better question is, where does that leave change?  "Change" would seem to fall under the same universal rule of balance; if there is no change, there is stasis until there isn't.  So, what is the difference?  The ability to sense there is a difference and, then, to make a conscious choice to change or not, is a big difference.  This idea of free choice would seem to remove change from certain aspects of the universal equation.  We simply have to make the choice not to change, not to lose hope.  In this way "hope" remains static; it remains eternal.  And, yet, the act of making a choice is the impetus for change, is it not?

  Hope, like choice, or free will, is something nobody can take away from us.  Hope is always with us.  We might misplace it, but it is always there.  We misplace many emotions because, for the great majority of us, we really don't ever have a solid grasp of them until we are too old to care.  With age comes the "aha!" moment when we realize emotions fall under the "it is what it is" rule.  We understand that emotion is simply a choice to be emotional.  When we understand our emotions we understand ourselves, and we change.

We have the knowledge of good and evil.  Evil only conquers us if we allow it to.  It is a choice we make.  Make the right choice and good can be eternal in your life.  Make a bad choice and evil can be eternal in your life.  People think they lose hope when it has just been misplaced.  They worry over hope until they find it again, never realizing they never really lost it.  Other people misplace hope and it seems they don't care if they ever find it again.  In this sense, it might seem hope is truly lost.  Is it, though?  If hope is just a choice we make, then all one need do is have faith that hope, again, exists.  They simply have to make the choice to believe in hope, again.

Hope is eternal, but only if you so desire it.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.